Suppressing dendrite growth with a poly(1-aminoanthraquinone) coating in a VS4 nanoflowers@carbon nanotubes composite based long lasting zinc-ion battery

Abstract

Non-aqueous zinc ion battery (ZIB) with a wide operational voltage window (∼1.8 V) and high Coulombic efficiency is fabricated. A cathode free of structural instability and low electrical conductivity issues as well as an anode free of dendritic growth enabled by a conducting polymer layer are deployed. The polymer, poly(1-aminoanthraquinone) (PAAQ) through electron rich functional groups and a porous microstructure allows uniform diffusion of Zn2+ ions during charging. A homogeneous Zn deposit is formed contrasting strongly with unrestricted dendritic growth in cells with Zn anode. The ZIB cathode is a composite of VS4 nanoflowers and carbon nanotubes functionalized with dioctyl sulfosuccinate (VS4 NFs@CNTs). It outperforms pristine VS4 NFs, due to enhanced electrical conductivity, ease of electron and ion transfer and transport, effective buffering of volume changes and better accessibility of the active V4+/5+ sites. The VS4 NFs@CNTs//PAAQ@Zn cell delivers a capacity of 330 mAh g−1 at 30 mA g−1 and retains 83.3 % (275 mAh g−1) and 80 % at 100 mA g−1 of its initial capacitance after 100 and 500 cycles. This work lays the foundation for developing ZIBs with ultra-long lifespan and high energy density as advanced energy storage systems.